Frangible container for explosives



Feb. 26, 1952 v. R. BOTTOM 2,586,91 1

FRANGIBLE CONTAINER FOR EXPLOSIVES Filed March 23, 1950 INVENT OR ATTORNEYS atented Feb. 25,, E

, time erases 2,586,911 FRANGIBLE CONTAINER Fon EXPLOSIVES Verle R; Bottom, Delaware, Okla. Application March 2a, 1950, Serial No, 151,463

Claims.

This invention relates to a frangible container for explosives, and, more particularly, to such a container primarily adaptedfor use is shooting oil wells.

. A primary object of this invention is the pro vision of a container of this character adapted to be filled with a liquid explosive such as tri-' nitro-toluene or the like for explosion within an oil well drilling for lateral loosening of the strata in which it is exploded, comprised of a frangible material of plastic or the like, any suitable plastic such as a phenolic resin being employed, thus overcoming the difliculty hitherto encountered in the use of tin or similar metal containers for this purpose, which metal containers tend to form a ball or entanglement in the drill shaft, which frequently required intensive additional drilling to penetrate and remove.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a container of this character so arranged that a plurality of containers may be nested or juxtaposed, if desired, to provide a relatively greater explosive charge.

An additional and more specific object of the invention is the provision of additional means adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a plurality of the containers of this invention whereby a multiple explosion may be occasioned in desired strata, which may be separated by other strata, without the hitherto frequent wastage of explosive on non-productive strata.

A further specific object of the invention resides in the provision of radialv external fins on the device for strengthening the containers in such manner as to prevent a crushing of the lowermost cylinder when a relatively large number of cylinders, nested in vertical alignment, are utilized.

Still another specific object of the invention is the provision of improved means for associating a supporting bail with each container whereby it may be lowered into the drilled hole, and subsequent containers positioned thereon, the bail being substantially automatically movable into a position whereby it will 'not'interfere with subsequent nesting of additional containers.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter as the description proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially through the center line of one of the containers, parts thereof being broken away, showing a portion of a second container nested in the top thereof, and a spacer member or anchor secured to the lower end thereof.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view of the device showing fill 2 the assembly and relationship of the bail therewith.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and more particularly to Figure 1, there is generally indicated at ill a tubular container preferably comprised of a suitable frangible plastic material, adapted to shatter when exploded and provided externally with longitudinally extending radially positioned reinforcing ribs I I which spaces the container from the circular well wall and centers it relative thereto as well as adding strength to the device. The additional strength attained thereby prevents breakage of a container which might otherwise occur by reason of the increased weight of additional containers superposed thereon for a purpose and in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

Tubular containers [0 may be of any desired length, although a preferred embodiment contemplates the use of cylinders from 12 to 15 feet long, a substantial portion of the interior length thereof comprising a recess I2. having an arcuate lower extremity l3, adapted for the reception of a liquid explosive such as tri-nitro-toluene. The lower portion of each member I0 comprises an inverted frustro-conical member H, which terminates in a depending vertical cylindrical flange I 5, provided with a plurality of apertures IS, in aligned pairs disposed in oifset right angular relationship, to each other.

The apertures l6 serve to permit the securing of a tubular. spacer member ll to the lower end of any desired cylinder as by means of a nail l8 having a head I 9 passed through 'each aligned pair of apertures, and upturned as indicated at 20 to secure spacer I! to the flange l5. Obviously, any other desired securing means may be utilized as for example a nut and bolt connection (not shown). The upper end of recess I2 is closed by a plug like member 2|, integral with the body of the cylinder, and forming an annular flange 22 at the upper end of the device provided with a central aperture, closed by a plate or flange 23 provided with a centrally positioned opening 26 and a plurality of radially disposed smaller apertures 25. The aperture plate 23 closes the lower end of a bore 21 of a dimension slightly in excess of the outer diameter of flange l5 which extends upwardly into a tapered frustro-conical recess 28 of a diameter conforming with the diameter of inverted frustro-conical portion M of the lower part of the cylinder, the arrangement being such that when cylinders are nested vertically flange l5 extends into the bore 21, and frustro-conical member I4 extends into the corresponding recess 28.

Positioned at an intermediate portion of frustro-conical recess 28 is an annulus 30 cut into the side wall of plug 2|, and having a circumferential circular channel 3| at its inner extremity of a greater diameter than annulus lb. The channel 3!! is adapted for the reception of apair of diametrically opposed discs 33 po itioned on the ends of bail ears 8% comprising the extremities of an arcuate bail It. The bail is adapted to be positioned within the annulus 30 by compressing the arcuate portion thereof and inserting the same in horizontal position into the recesses 28, and releasing the compression on. the bail when the discs 33 are positioned within channel 3i. Obviously when the device is positioned vertically as shown in Figure 3, the positioning of the discs 38 will be such as to preclude disengagement of the bail ears 36 from the annulus, it here being pointed out that the discs are of greater diameter than the vertical width of annulus 30.

From the foregoing .the method of use of the apparatus should now be understandable. When it is desired to fire a shot in a specific strata at. a distance of, say, several feet from the bottom of the drilling a spacer member ll of the desired length is secured to the depending flange iii of a cylinder id, in a manner previously described, and the cylinder suspended by means of a suitable conventional self-releasing hook secured to the bail interiorly of the top of the well bore. The container i2 is then filled with liquid explosive through the apertures 24 and the shoulder 22 and fiange of the plug 23 serving to preclude, to a substantial degree, siopping or splashing of the liquid explosive. The cylinder is then lowered to its desired position, and a second cylinder prepared and filled with explosive in the same manner and lowered on top thereof.

The diameter of the cylinders is such as to substantially center the same relative to the well bore, and the additional cylinder will thus nest, as shown in Figure l, with flange [15 within bore 2?, and member it within recess 28. The bail be when the attaching hook is released will fall by gravity to substantially horizontal osition,

and, being comprised of resilient material, may

be pressed or retracted into the annulus 30 to permit relatively close seating of adjacent cylinders. Additional cylinders may be added as desired and, in the event a non-productive strata is encountered between productive strata which it is desired to explode a spacer member I! may be positioned between any desired two containers.

The well bore may then be closed by a temp comprised of water, mud, slush, or the like, in conventional manner to direct the primary force of the explosion transversely to diffuse the same in a desired direction, a conventional detonator of any desired type having been previously positioned in the topmost cylinder and suitable connections for exploding the same provided to the top of the well.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a frangible container for explosives which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept. and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is thereby interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a container for explosives particularly adapted for shooting oil wells, a cylindrical mmber comprised of frangible material, an interior I recess adapted to be filled with liquid explosive, a frustro-conical tapered lower extremity on said member. a frustro-conical recess in the upper extremity of said member, and a retractile bail disposed in said recess whereby a plurality of said containers may be individually lowered into a well and be vertically nested.

2. In' a container for explosives particularly adapted for shooting oil wells, a cylindrical member comprised of frangible material, an interior recess adapted to be filled with liquid explosive. a frustro-conical tapered lower extremity on said member, a cylindrical flange depending from said lower extremity, a frustro-conical recess in the upper extremity of said member, a hinged bail mounted in said recess and rockable to a nonvertical position therein. and a bore having an interior diameter greater than the exterior diameter of said flange extending from said frustraconical recess whereby a plurality of said oontainers may be vertically nested.

3. In a container for explosives particularly adapted for shooting oil wells, a cylindrical member comprised of frangible material, an interior recess adapted to be filled with liquid explosive,

a frustro-conical tapered lower extremity on said member, a frustro-conical recess in the upper extremity of said member whereby a plurality of said containers may be vertically nested, and a retractile bail carried in said i'rustro-conical recess.

a. In a container for explosives particularly adapted for shooting oil wells, a cylindrical member comprised of frangible material, an interior recess adapted to be filled with liquid explosive, a frustro-conical tapered lower extremity on said member, a frustro-conical recess in the upper extremity of said member whereby a plurality of said containers may be vertically nested, said last mentioned recess including an annulus, a bail rockably disposed in said recess, and bail ears on saidbail extending into said annulus.

5. In a container for explosives particularly adapted for shooting oil wells, a cylindrical member comprised of frangible material, an interior recess adapted to be filled with liquid explosive, a frustro-conical tapered lower extremity on said member, a frustro-conical recess in the upper extremity of said member whereby a plurality of said containers may be vertically nested, said last mentioned recess including an intermediately positioned annulus, a peripheral channel about said annulus of greater diameter than the width of said annulus, a bail disposed in said recess, bail ears on said ball adapted for insertion into said annulus and discs on said ball ears of greater diameter than the width of said annulus whereby upon positioning said bail in a vertical position said discs extend diametrically of said channel to retain said bail ears in said annulus.

VERLE R. BOTTOM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

